A young'un enters the basketball blogging world

Jakob Kagel has been on this earth just 15 years but he has a plan and his College Basketball 24/7 blog is just the beginning.

Jakob recently featured his 'sleepers' for 2008-2009 and LA TECH was included. Here's what he wrote (although the D.J. Wright portion is incorrect):

"Louisiana Tech-The Bulldogs are on the path back to the "glory days" of Karl Malone, P.J. Brown and even maybe the days of Paul Milsap (even though they were not the best) and what better way to do it than hiring the great himself, the mail man as part of your staff. The Bulldogs won only 6 games last year but the outlook is very positive for the team that finished last is the WAC behind even lowly San Jose St. and scored only 31 points in a early season contest win Texas Tech. The reason that the"Techsters" can do in this year, is the addition of 5 impact newcomers and the return of lead guard Kyle Gibson (16.5 ppg). The new players that could all see significant playing time are Kenneth Cooper(transfer Oklahoma St.), Magnum Rolle (LSU), Jamel White (Nebraska), Olu Ashalu (RS Freshman Rivals 150), and D.J. Wright (RS Freshman Rivals 150). There is no telling how well all of these transfers, and newcomers will be able to play together, but just consider that New Mexico St., under Reggie Theus had a similar turn around when in 05-06 they won only 15 games, and the following year the won the WAC tournament and got a berth in the NCAA tournament. All in all on a team that has 11 new comers overall Kerry Rupp had better make them gel fast because the Bulldogs have a Dec. 28 meeting with UCLA.
Prediction: NIT"

Bringing heat, bringing light

A solid rule of thumb is don't type what you wouldn't say in person to the object of your post/email etc. Hopefully, we have followed this advice but surely some will think we have fallen short at times. Anonymity becomes too safe a refuge for some who fail to comprehend both the damage that can be done and the hurt inflicted. And for what as snark is fairly simple to create. Heat is good at times -- even necessary -- as long as it is accompanied by light.

In the Internet age, are things truth or blog?
chris gabel
Reno Gazette-Journal
July 27, 2008

"Some of these things that happen that are on blogs and on the Internet, there's no legs, there's just no reason. They just get out there and then you have to put them out."

That was Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona recently, responding to a rumor about his club that was circulating on the Web. Francona is far from alone in his view of the Wild West territory that is the sports blogosphere.

Athletes around the country say they steer clear of what is written about them on the Internet, much the way they avoid newspaper columns. Blogs can be the sports equivalent of the National Enquirer or the New York Post's Page 6 gossip columns.

Content ranges from facts to unconfirmed gossip, funny to sophomoric and boorish.

They can give a humorous take on the stories that go beyond the box score, and often beyond the field or court. The Kevin Hart saga (of the Fernley High football player who committed to play for a college that did not recruit him) made the national sites, as did Jessica Simpson's appearance at the American Century Championship golf tournament earlier this month.

"There's no doubt many blogs push the envelope as to what's acceptable," said Ryan Jerz, operator of the local blog, "Mr. Jerz...."

Go here for the remainder.